2020 Honda ODYSSEY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
459 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
12,324 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 158 of 459 complaints (34.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 112 | 24.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 76 | 16.6% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 158 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 122 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 90 |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 82 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 77 |
| Lane Departure: Warning | 67 |
| Unknown Or Other | 67 |
| Engine | 65 |
Electrical System: 158; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 122; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 90; Lane Departure: Assist: 82; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 77; Lane Departure: Warning: 67; Unknown Or Other: 67; Engine: 65
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 402 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 47 |
| 2024 | 78 |
| 2025 | 134 |
| 2026 | 135 |
2019: 2; 2020: 23; 2021: 13; 2022: 27; 2023: 47; 2024: 78; 2025: 134; 2026: 135
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 112 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 76 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11288730 · 2019-12-12 (December 12, 2019)
WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THIS MORNING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE WHILE MAKING A GRINDING/SLIPPING SOUND. I WAS GOING STRAIGHT, LESS THAN 5 MPH. I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED QUICKLY (PUMPED THE BRAKES) BEFORE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. THIS CAUSED ME TO COME VERY CLOSE, ALMOST HITTING THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN THE PARKING LOT. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS FULL AND THERE WAS NO APPARENT FLUID ON THE GROUND BENEATH MY CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,816 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11338423 · 2020-07-09 (July 9, 2020)
THE CAR IS MAKING A CRACKLING NOISE FROM THE DASH BROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE LATTER STATED THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT THE CRACKLING/SPARKLING NOISE COME FROM THE SPEAKERS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HONDA IS WORKING WITH NHTSP ON A FIX. THE NOISE ACCENTUATES WHEN THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE BRAKES, BUT ALSO WHEN S/HE SPEEDS UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319678 · 2020-03-29 (March 29, 2020)
HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE ODYSSEY SHORTLY AFTER CROSSING 2K MILES. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START RELIABLY. CALLED HONDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE MULTIPLE TIMES TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO PREFORM NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:20V-066 ON FRIDAY MARCH 27TH AND HAVE THEM INSPECT THE ISSUE STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND ON SATURDAY MARCH 28TH THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO NOT START. WHEN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SHOWED UP ON SATURDAY, THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE.THE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375340 · 2020-11-19 (November 19, 2020)
DEFECTIVE 2020 HONDA ODYSSEY RECEIVED BRAND NEW JUNE 9. BEGAN HAVING ISSUES IN 2 MONTHS. SERVICED AT BAYTOWN, TX COMMUNITY HONDA ON 9/11, 9/24,9/17,10/16 FOR OCCURRING ISSUE. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. VIDEO DOCUMENTATION WITH TIME STAMP OF ISSUE IS SAVED. CASE OPEN WITH AMERICA HONDA: CASE MANAGER, ANTONIO DETERMINED THE HONDA TECHS AT THE DEALER ARE INCORRECTLY FIXING THE VAN. THE FAKRA CONNECTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE WILL SUBMIT REQUEST TO FIELD MANAGER TEAM FOR A FIELD ENGINEER TO BE SCHEDULED TO SERVICE MY VAN. ANTONIO, CASE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479608 · 2022-08-16 (August 16, 2022)
My 2020 Honda Odyssey the engine stalled while I am driving. It isn’t the first time in part two years. My first complaint to the dealer on 2020, the first time my engine stalled when I was moving to the Parking. The engine stalled and all the lights on on the dashboard with a big bang sound. I restarted the car and my car can drive again. I bought it to the honda dealer at puente hills and they told me stop to use the brake hold system while I am driving. After a few weeks later , I have the Same problem again when I made a right turn. After …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482480 · 2022-09-01 (September 1, 2022)
Start stop system malfunctions during auto stop/restart. Van will stall or fully turn off instead of restart when brake released and accelerator pressed. Problem is intermittent and increasing in frequency. This results in unexpected stalls/stops in traffic, putting driver and passengers (as well as other vehicles) at risk. Message displayed is “Collision mitigation system problem” or the van stops itself and tells the driver to “shift to park”. Van may or may not immediately respond to starting push button. Dealership cannot identify problem,…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11482480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383377 · 2020-12-14 (December 14, 2020)
UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, TRANSMISSION LAGS TO THE POINT OF CAR NOT MOVING. IT HAPPENS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, MAKING A TURN OR PULLING AWAY FROM A LIGHT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE TO REPORT..NOW HAVE 7000 MILES ON CAR..DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL..THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR..ITS THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WORKS.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387831 · 2021-01-13 (January 13, 2021)
CAR DRIVE FORWARD WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11387831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329032 · 2020-06-15 (June 15, 2020)
THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM (IS) STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AROUND 2000 MILES. THE SCREEN WENT BLACK AND THEN CAME BACK ON. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. THERE WAS CRACKLING AND STATIC AROUND AND ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IF SYSTEM WAS ON IT WENT OFF WITH THE CRACKLING AND IF OFF IT CAME ON. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN SAYS NETWORK COMMUNICATION LOST. WHEN OFF THERE IS NO GPS, NO BACKUP CAMERA, NO SPEED LIMIT NOTICE, NO CLIMATE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT, NO RADIO, NO CLOCK, NO ANYTHING THAT IS PART OF THE IS. AND PHONES DO NOT CHARGE WHEN SYSTEM IS OFF. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11343147 · 2020-08-04 (August 4, 2020)
ON A SUNNY, CLEAR, DRY DAY AND ON A PAVED AND MARKED TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD, THE CAR WOULD NOT LET ME TURN TO THE RIGHT ON A SWTICHBACK TURN. I WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 -30 MPH WITH MY FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THE SWITCHBACK WAS TO THE RIGHT AND UPWARD AND IT WAS AROUND 14:00. BASICALLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND REMAINED LOCKED FORCING THE CAR INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC UNTIL I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A FULL STOP AT WHICH POINT THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND I COULD TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11343147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11561437 · 2023-12-22 (December 22, 2023)
The car stalled when stopped at a red traffic light. This happened on 2 occasions, 11-3-23 and 12-9-23. The second time other cars behind us had to go around us while we tried to restart the car which put them at risk of being hit by cars in the other lanes. There was no warning. I took the car in for regular maintenance a few days ago during which the dealership did a multi point inspection but did not discuss this issue. Yesterday I heard about the fuel pump recall and think this might be the same issue. I called the dealership today bu…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11561437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11562996 · 2024-01-02 (January 2, 2024)
9/29/23 Vehicle left my wife stranded on in parking lot would not start. Had vehicle towed to garage. Garage had to replace the fuel pump as the impellers were no longer working. Vehicle would not turn over acted like bad gas, shop put in fresh gas still would not start. Found failed fuel pump. 1/04/24 Called Honda [phone removed], rf teh 12/23/2023 recall on additional 2.8 mil units including my odyssey. spoke to angel at Honda, he told me my unit was the only one out of millions of units not affected by this recall, even though my wife was le…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11562996 at NHTSA ↗